Gripes over EPA in responses to Issa

EPA rules dominated the responses that House Oversight and Government Reform Chairman Darrell Issa released Monday from more than 160 companies, industry trade associations and conservative think tanks asked about whether regulations harm jobs.

More than 100 responses mention EPA rules, including those controlling greenhouse gas emissions. But also mentioned were a range of other agency rules covering air toxic controls for industrial boilers, Clean Water Act pesticide permits, dust regulation, mountaintop mining, Chesapeake Bay pollution and ground-level ozone, or smog.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce was particularly active in citing EPA regulations, including the tailoring rule, the agency's overall ability to regulate under the Clean Air Act, proposed particulate matter controls, as well as its lead restrictions and proposed interstate transport rule. The chamber also joined the National Automobile Dealers Association in referring to EPA's granting California of a waiver from federal rules in light of the state's stricter standards.

Issa issued a statement saying the responses from industry and the overall Republican oversight efforts on regulations “should complement what President Obama has already called on his Administration to do and in concert, lead to a robust and expansive discussion about what the best way forward is to stimulate our economy.”

He added that the Republican efforts are “an opportunity for private industry to put forward detailed and specific examples so that both the American people and policymakers can determine for themselves what actions can be taken to create jobs.”

Issa released the industry responses ahead of a hearing Thursday on how regulations affect jobs and the economy. Witnesses have not been announced. Issa’s staff is preparing an analysis and a report to complement the industry responses for release Tuesday.

Committee ranking member Elijah Cummings of Maryland — who was picked for that position by Democrats under the guise he would aggressively try to counteract Issa’s attacks on the administration — said in a statement:

“The American people sent us here not only to create jobs, but also to protect their health, welfare, and safety. There must be a reasonable balance between job creation, which we all support, and regulatory measures that provide core protections to the American people. Only by working in a bipartisan way will we achieve this balance. Although the majority requested only information regarding the potential costs of regulation — and no information regarding the key benefits to health and safety — we stand ready to work together on a more comprehensive approach in the future.”

The EPA issued a statement saying the agency "will continue to work with industry — and a wide range of stakeholders — to ensure the standards we develop to protect the air we breathe and the water we drink are reasonable and achievable." This, the agency said, is "in line with the President's commitment to removing outdated and unnecessary regulations and ensuring that rules don't needlessly stifle job creation and economic growth."

In their Jan. 10 response to Issa, the American Iron and Steel Institute notes that it interacts with EPA on more than 40 environmental rules. “Many of these new regulations will create permitting obstacles for investment in new and renovated facilities and impose significant additional costs on domestic steel producers as well as other energy intensive industries,” said the response from President and CEO Thomas Gibson.